January 28th 2025.
As the world celebrates the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, BBC's Miss Austen brings us a poignant tribute to the enigmatic author behind some of literature's most beloved love stories. Her novels, such as Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, and Sense and Sensibility, are filled with ill-fated love, chivalry, desire, and societal intrigue that still resonate with readers today, minus the corsets.
Despite the timelessness of her works, we know little about Jane Austen's life outside of her fiction. This is mainly due to her sister, Cassandra, who burned almost all of Jane's letters to preserve their legacies. This act has caused Cassandra to be seen as a villain by many Austen fans and has sparked immense fascination among historians trying to uncover the truth about Jane's life and the reasons behind Cassandra's actions.
Enter Gill Hornby's 2020 novel, Miss Austen, which takes inspiration from Jane's own writing style and imagines what could have been revealed in those destroyed letters. The novel has now been adapted into a four-episode BBC series, featuring a star-studded cast that includes some of Britain's best talent. The show's authentic costumes and comforting aesthetic transport us back in time, allowing us to lose ourselves in the world of Jane Austen for a few hours.
The show is divided into two timelines, the first being in the 1840s, where Cassandra travels to the home of the Fowle family in Kintbury to save Jane's letters from falling into the wrong hands. Here, we are introduced to various characters, both real and imagined, such as Isabella, the daughter of the house, Cassandra's insufferable sister-in-law, Mary Austen, and the local physician with a soft spot for Isabella, Lidderdale.
As Cassandra frantically reads through the letters, we are transported back in time to the engagement between her younger self, Cassie, and Tom Fowle, who plans to go on a voyage to earn money before returning to marry her. This sets the stage for us to delve into the complexities of their relationship and the possible reasons behind the choices the Austen sisters made in their lives.
The show beautifully explores the bond between sisters, Jane's fulfilling writing career, and the enduring power of love between generations. As one character puts it, Cassandra and Jane were not just sisters, but also best friends, soulmates, and the loves of each other's lives. The show also cleverly includes nods to Austen's most beloved works, making it a must-watch for fans of her writing.
However, the show's pacing can be a bit convoluted and slow at times, as we jump back and forth between the present and the past. It may require viewers to put down their phones, grab a cup of tea, and settle in for a few hours of focused viewing. The stellar cast, including Downton Abbey's Phyllis Logan and The Crown's Kevin McNally, bring their mastery of period drama to the screen, ensuring that the show is in good hands.
By the end, you may find yourself drawn into the mystery behind Austen's letters and coming up with your own theories. But in a world where we are constantly bombarded with intimate details and gossip about everyone's lives, Miss Austen serves as a reminder that some things may always remain a mystery. The show will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on February 2, 2025.
Do you have a celebrity story or pictures to share? Contact the entertainment team at The Agency by emailing us, calling the number above, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We would love to hear from you.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
